Brittney Murphy's husband found dead in home

Just five months after the death of, Brittney Murphy, her husband Simon Monjack was found dead in the home he shared with the actress.  He was found by his mother, who was concerned because she couldn’t reach him.

While there are plenty of rumors over the incredible timing of both deaths, Monjack’s mother insists that she believes her son died of natural causes.  She told People that he had ongoing health problems, and that he had a heart attack just a few weeks after his wife’s death.

Brittney Murphy died from complications from pneumonia.  According to Monjack, she was taking cough medicine for the symptoms and an antibiotic for the infection itself.  Officially, Brittney Murphy’s  cause of death is listed as “community acquired pneumonia,” iron deficiency anemia, and multiple drug interactions. 

Investigators stated that there were a lot of prescription meds found in the home of Murphy and Monjack’s home after her death, which was a concern as the coroner continued his investigation.

The FDA warns consumers to be careful of all three types of drug interactions: 

·         Drug interactions with food and drink

·         Drug interactions with dietary supplements

·         Drug interactions with other drugs

The agency also advises consumers to make a list of all prescriptions, keeping that list in one place.  When you receive a new prescription, make sure you check all of its side effects and any known adverse reaction it may have to other drugs.

 For example, many over the counter cold medications advise against using the product with MAO inhibitors, as they can substantially increase sleepiness.  Vitamin C can interfere with ADHD medications, such as adderall. 

WebMD recommends using only one pharmacy for all of your prescription needs, as your pharmacist can alert you to any potential problems with what you are taking.

For more information on drug safety, go to the FDA Consumer Information Center at www.fda.gov/consumer.